Ales Hemsky's importance to the Edmonton Oilers is evident in the comparison general manager Kevin Lowe makes to explain why he was more than willing to give Hemsky a six-year deal this summer.

"Ales reminds a little bit of (Mark) Messier in that he has that Messier mentality of 'Let's just get the win and I don't care if it's one point, two points or 12,' " Lowe says.

Hemsky isn't yet a well-recognized name in the NHL, but Lowe's willingness to mention his similarity to one of Edmonton's hockey icons speaks to the respect Hemsky has achieved even at age 23.

With 19 goals and 77 points, Hemsky had a breakout season for the Oilers in 2005-06, and the Oilers were thrilled when Hemsky suggested that he might be open to a long-term deal because he liked playing in Edmonton. The six-year, $24.6 million deal came a few weeks after the city had been in an uproar about Chris Pronger asking to be traded.

"I don't know if he is going to put up monster points, but I think Ales is a player who can be associated with winning," Lowe says.

Lowe just doesn't know if Hemsky sees himself as someone who should be among the league's scoring leaders.

"Guys who put up big numbers are highly motivated to generate points," Lowe says. "He will do that because he is multitalented. But he's one of the elite talents in the game. We saw that in the playoffs."

Hemsky could stickhandle in a clothes closet, and he moves the puck around like he's controlling it with a magic wand.

"He can undress anyone," Lowe says. "The best way to describe him is that he brings fear to a defenseman's eyes. I can see when he comes down on them one-on-one. And how many players in the league can do that?"

Lowe thinks Hemsky could add another dozen points this season, which would put him in the 90-point range. That would make Lowe extremely happy because Hemsky brings other assets to the team.

Says Lowe: "He's become a pretty well-rounded player at both ends of the ice."

In the summer of 2005, the Oilers were sure enough about Hemsky's potential that they traded Mike York to the New York Islanders. But the confidence Hemsky showed all season was still surprising.

The only criticism that seems appropriate for Hemsky is that he probably doesn't shoot enough. At least the Edmonton fans don't always think so. They sometimes yell, "shoot, shoot, shoot" when Hemsky has the puck

But Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said during last year's Stanley Cup Finals that every time he is about to say that Hemsky should have shot, the player makes a nifty pass that creates an easy goal for a linemate.